Martin Massicotte, of St. Tite, Quebec, has won the grueling, 250-mile Irving Woodlands Can-Am Crown eight times. He was shooting for a ninth victory as 13 mushers departed Saturday from Fort Kent under light snow.

Each race through the wilderness of northern Maine is different.

The temperature plummeted to minus-38 during the first Can-Am Crown. A year later, the temperature soared to 61 degrees, and the race had to be cut short.

This year, there will be cold nights and warmer days with temperatures topping 32 degrees. Massicotte said the warmer temperatures could complicate things for mushers. He said dogs must be in good condition to handle softer snow.